WotC_Rodney's Wizard: Sleep, magic missiles, and dimension door?

[TerraDave]

With SWSE-style triple HD+con HPs at first level and killing the d4 hit die dead (which should have been done long ago), not so unlikley.

Right, I would be assuming he had 20 or so hitpoints...so thats a pretty big hit from a "sailor".

The teleport also a big deal if level 1.

 

[Zaukrie]

Have we read about any PCs dieing, or even being close to dieing (other than this one down to 2 hps)? I mean, damage when missing, healing all over the place...is there even risk anymore?

 

[Henry]

How do we know this? Source?

We don't (as far as I know), but Star Wars doesn't have it for any of the classes, and a lot of people, from Monte in 2003, on down to the present day have wanted d4 hit dice gone from the classes, as it's a shade too weak in some opinions.

If that wizard had, speculating, base 18 hit points at first level, and no con bonus, then a critical hit for 16 damage wouldn't be too far fetched for a longsword, or heavier weapon, in the hands of a thug with a minor STR bonus.

 

[Henry]

Have we read about any PCs dieing, or even being close to dieing (other than this one down to 2 hps)? I mean, damage when missing, healing all over the place...is there even risk anymore?

Actually, listening to the recent October podcast, they mentioned not one, but TWO games played in the past week (and one a while back involving mummies) which almost came out to TPK's. One of the current ones was more detailed in the podcast, involving a Purple Worm and some other creatures.

 

[TerraDave]

Have we read about any PCs dieing, or even being close to dieing (other than this one down to 2 hps)? I mean, damage when missing, healing all over the place...is there even risk anymore?

Its come up a few times. In fact on one of these blogs a charecter will killed twice in a playtest excercise. But there seem to be a lot more near misses then actual death. Though I guess that is what you want.

 

[Henry]

...But there seem to be a lot more near misses then actual death. Though I guess that is what you want.

Famous quote from WizarDru:

"The Soul of D&D? It's rolling a natural 20 when you're down to 3 hit points and the cleric's on the floor and you're staring that sunnavabitch bugbear right in his bloodshot eye and holding the line just long enough to let the wizard unleash a fireball at the guards who are on their way, because they're all that stands between you, the Foozle and Glory." - WizarDru

 

[Nebulous]

Its come up a few times. In fact on one of these blogs a charecter will killed twice in a playtest excercise. But there seem to be a lot more near misses then actual death. Though I guess that is what you want.

Yup. Just making the PC's THINK they're all going to die, yet pull through, is important to happy gaming. Too easy and it's a cakewalk; too hard and they get discouraged.

 

[drothgery]

How do we know this? Source?

We don't. It's pure speculation, but as Henry noted, it's speculation with a lot of history behind it.

 

[Zaukrie]

Ok, then I'm less worried. Thanks for the responses.

 

[inkmonkeys]

My rogue hit the floor hard during a playtest. He was one hp-width away from not ever getting back up, and I was absolutely certain he wasn't going to make it out of that dogpile. Luckily, the cleric and paladin had more faith in the character than I. =)